Social Media Outpouring for Muizenberg Young Man with a Plan!

Yet another brilliant story of uBuntu and the power of social media as a platform for South Africans to help each other get ahead, has emerged today. And this time the guy who is being helped has already done so much to help himself, has awesome ideas…and is on social media himself.

This morning Karen Thomson posted the following powerful message:

“PLEASE HELP

“I met Johannes in Muizenberg this morning. At first I wanted to dismiss him as another beggar just wanting something from me. Yes, the ignorance of being a privileged person.

“I am so lucky I didn’t.

“Johannes hasn’t had it easy… Abandoned as a baby at 3 months he grew up in an orphanage in Johannesburg. Unable to finish school he is washing cars and selling motivational posters he has made himself to raise enough money to do online computer courses.

“He also has a laptop at Cash Crusaders that he is paying off.

“Each module costs R600, he has managed to do 2 at an Internet cafe whilst staying at a homeless shelter in Retreat.

“Can we save everyone? No.

“Would I like to? Yes.

“Let’s stand together and change this young man’s life!

“Together we can make a difference.”

Karen set up a fundraising page, saying all funds raised would be allocated to assist Johannes with a place to live, food, water, electricity, studies, wifi and other living expenses for one year.

Within four hours, over $1,000 had been raised and several kind offers had been made on facebook, including one to pay off the rest of his laptop.

An hour ago an overwhelmed Karen posted a message from Johannes thanking everyone, especially “Mama Karen”. He said he’s been in and out of streets for a long time, is self-taught, and doesn’t drink or smoke.

Capetonian Paul Kotze confirmed “this dude is awesome. He comes to our office every Tuesday and thru his car wash business, he washes 8-10 cars.” Paul said Johannes is studying app development and has a carwash app, and “a great business plan”.

Johannes, who is currently living at Haven Night Shelter in Retreat, has his own Facebook account and was able to respond to many of the kind comments.

Johannes says: “Through the fundraising projects I started (washing cars and selling of art blocks), I wanted to save up to earn a skill that I could use to overcome my current challenges and build a better life. I didn’t want to ask for funding from the government but wake-up and do it myself.”

He hopes that he’ll be able to achieve his goal and be an example to many others “living at the shelter and out in the world.”

On his Facebook page, Johannes posted this Proverbs 12:24 quote a few days ago: “Work hard and become a Leader; be lazy and become a slave.” And he appears to be living true to that ideal…